Independent Rail Tours in Europe

Find answers to frequently asked question about our independant rail tours packages in Europe.

Embark on a European rail journey with Authentic Europe! Visit one country in depth of combine several destinations on a multi-country trip starting from London, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and more. Customise your tour in a click with extra nights or experiences and select the level of comfort your prefer. Explore all tours →

 

FAQ - Frequently asked questions:

 

 

Will I meet a representative from Authentic Europe during my trip?

As we offer tours to multiple countries throughout Europe, we do not have staff available to meet with you in person. Please rest assured however, that we are always available on the phone and email during office house and through our emergency phone outside of office hours should you require assistance during your travels.

Are airport/ railway station and hotel transfers included?

Transfers are normally not included, but you can book your airport transfer as an additional service, this is also possible to book locally after arrival. The exception to this is our independent rail tours in Italy where we have transfers included in some locations, this is clearly listed under services included.

The transfer from the hotel to the railway station and port can be booked with the hotel after arrival. Information on how to get to your hotel and to the railway station/ port using local transport will be provided with the travel documents. It is generally very easy and convenient to get to and from the airport or railway station by public transport as we use centrally located hotels.

What is included in the tour price?

An overview of the services included is specified for each tour (at the bottom of the tour page).

How does it work with the rail pass?

The pass includes unlimited travel on the trains during the validity of the pass. If the tour for example includes a 4-day pass and you wish to extend your stay with a day or several days, you just need to advise us on the booking form, and we will recalculate the cost for the extension. The maximum validity is 15 days within one calendar month. Seat reservations are not included, for long distance rail travel we recommend for you to prebook your seats. On some of the tours the seat reservation is included, this is then shown in the overview of services included for that tour.

How will I find the way?

We will provide you with a detailed travel itinerary, including information on how to get from the airport to your hotel, from your hotel to the train station, ferry terminal etc. We also provide exact details on how to change from one transport to the other during your trip (from train to boat to bus etc.).

Is it far to walk?

Our tour categories Gold and Platinum will, whenever possible, always include hotels that are located within short walking distance from the train station/ferry terminal/bus station/pier. Category Silver hotels will also be centrally located, but will in some locations require the need for public transport to get from the train station/ferry terminal/bus station/pier.

This might also be the case for Gold and Platinum due to availability or the distance between e.g. the ferry terminal and the central train station. In these cases we include information in the travel documents on how you can find your way by public transport.

Will anyone take care of my luggage?

No luggage transport or assistance is included in the price; each person is responsible for his/her luggage. There is space for the luggage on-board the different transports (one suitcase and one carry-on per person), but you must be able to carry/lift your luggage on-board the transport.

Can I add additional hotel nights?

Extra nights can be added when submitting the tour reservation through our website. Extra nights before the start of the tour or after the end of the tour can also be added until the final payment due date by sending an e-mail to info@authentic-europe.com Please note that there will be an amendment fee of EUR 50,- for adding extra nights and/or overnight experiences in the middle of the tour once the tour is confirmed. The amendment fee also applies if adding an extra night after you have received the travel documents. 

Can I exclude hotel nights?

Should you wish to exclude any hotel overnights included in the tour we ask you kindly to specify this in the remarks field when submitting the reservation through our website. It is not possible to take out the majority of the overnights included in the tour price. For tours including only 2 or 3 nights, no nights can be removed. To get the amended tour price please contact us through the request form during the online booking process or by sending an email to info@authentic-europe.com

Can I book my flight tickets before I receive my tour confirmation?

We highly recommend for you not to book your flights before you have received the tour confirmation from us. Our tours are subject to availability, meaning we cannot guarantee availability until we have sent the tour confirmation. We do our utmost to send the tour confirmation within 24-48 hours (Monday-Friday). 

How and when will I receive my travel documents and tickets?

All travel documents will be sent by e-mail approximately one month prior to travel and after final payment has been received. For last-minute bookings, we will send them as soon as possible after receipt of full payment. Included in the travel documents are a detailed travel itinerary, an address list, travel vouchers and/or e-tickets. You will receive a travel voucher and/or e-ticket for each service included in the package tour. These vouchers are your proof of payment and must be presented during your trip.

What happens if the train/boat/bus is delayed and I miss my connection?

Please rest assured that we have included departure times that correspond with the connecting transportation. However, if there is a delay, we recommend that you inform the driver/conductor of your transport so that they can call to inform your connecting transport.

What happens if I show up late for my transport or activity?

We ask you kindly to show up on time as the tickets and vouchers normally cannot be used for a later departure or activity. No refund can be offered if you show up late - unless the cause of the delay is a connecting transport booked through Authentic Europe. In this event, we ask you kindly to call us immediately.

What is the child reduction for the public transport tours?

There is normally a 50% child reduction on our public transport tours when 1-2 children are sharing a room with two fully paying persons. The age the child reduction applies to might differ between the tours (sometimes valid until 15 and sometimes until 12). To find the exact price for all travellers for a specific tour please enter a travel date, travellers, room type and hotel category.

Can I get a senior discount on your tours?

We can unfortunately not offer any senior discount on the prices published on our website as our contracted rates with our suppliers cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Can I get a discount on your tours with Scanrail/Eurail Pass?

We can unfortunately not offer any discount on the prices published on our website for Scanrail / Eurail Pass holders.

 

Explore our independent rail tours →

 

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Meet our team

Trude Sivertsen - Director of Sales and Operation

Trude joined the Haman Group in 2005, and has built up Authentic Scandinavia since the very beginning in 2008. She is now happy to share her time between Authentic Europe and Authentic Scandinavia.  

Lisbeth Wahl - Product Manager

Swedish born with many years in the travel industry, she has lived in UK, Switzerland & Spain. Lis has been with Authentic Europe from the start and is responsible for product development.

Emmanuel Lefèvre - Product Manager France

Emmanuel is native French and responsible for our tours to France. He has been living in Norway since 2014 and loves to explore the world on his bicycle. Emmanuel joined the Authentic Europe team in 2019.

Anette Karlsson - CEO of Haman Group

As the CEO of the Haman Group Anette’s days are not your typical 9-5 job but she very much enjoys it! Anette is the one who made the dream of Authentic Scandinavia/Europe possible.

Orijana Biberovic - CFO of Haman Group

Orijana is born in Bosnia and Herzegovina but came to Norway in 1994. She has been in charge of Authentic Scandinavia's accounts since 2011. In 2013 she became the Chief Accountant of Haman Group. 

Natacha Müller - Social Media Marketing

After developing a fascination for Scandinavia, Natacha, originally from Switzerland, relocated to Oslo in November 2019. Her love for travelling, reading, and all things creative keeps her inspired and engaged.

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